Research Assistant

Research Assistant (ELPCEC Evaluation)
East London Primary Care Education Centre (ELPCEC)
Centre for Health Equity and Sustainable Societies (CHESS)
University of East London

Grade: E (point scale 29)
Contract: Fixed Term – 18 months, 0.5 FTE (part-time, approximately 21 hours per week)
Location: Stratford campus, University of East London (with community outreach across east London)

The University of East London (UEL) is a careers-led, forward-thinking institution committed to making a positive impact on students, graduates and the communities it serves. As one of the most diverse universities in London, UEL is proud to conduct research that addresses real-world challenges and informs policy at national and international levels.

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant to join the Centre for Health Equity and Sustainable Societies (CHESS) Evaluation Unit, within the Institute for Connected Communities. The Evaluation Unit conducts applied research at the intersection of health, education and community wellbeing, leading rigorous, participatory evaluations of complex programmes that generate evidence which is actionable, equitable and grounded in lived experience.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the evaluation of the East London Primary Care Education Centre (ELPCEC), an 18-month pilot programme bringing together education, health and skills pathways for young people who are NEET, neurodiverse or facing multiple disadvantages. The post holder will work closely with Dr Darren Sharpe, Director of CHESS, and the wider programme team, engaging directly with young people, partner organisations and community settings across east London.

Key Responsibilities Include:

- Supporting the design and delivery of a participatory evaluation framework, including developing accessible surveys, interview guides and creative research tools
- Recruiting, training and supporting young people to act as co-researchers, and facilitating creative and participatory research activities
- Supporting qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, including thematic analysis and review of monitoring data
- Managing participant data, anonymisation and secure data storage in line with GDPR
- Drafting research documentation such as participant information sheets, consent forms and topic guides for young people and vulnerable groups
- Supporting safeguarding protocols and risk assessment procedures throughout all research activity
- Preparing evaluation briefings, reports and policy-relevant outputs, and contributing to peer-reviewed publications
- Liaising with partner organisations, schools and community organisations across Newham, Hackney and Tower Hamlets

The right candidate will have a background in youth work and direct experience of participatory and creative research methods, along with existing knowledge of, and relationships within, youth-facing work in north or east London.

Due to the involvement of young people and vulnerable groups in the research, the successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Interviews will be held remotely via Microsoft Teams.

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